The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

Directed by: John McTiernan | 106 minutes | action, comedy, romance, crime, thriller | Actors: Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, Denis Leary, Ben Gazzara, Faye Dunaway, Frankie Faison, Fritz Weaver, Charles Keating, Mark Margolis, Michael Lombard, Bill Ambrozy, Michael Bahr, Robert D. Novak, Joe H. Lamb, James Saito

You could think of the music in a movie as its smell. Almost imperceptibly, it ensures that a film is pleasing, oppressive, amusing, et cetera. And in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ that music has been chosen with the utmost care thanks to the good nose of Bill Conti. It smells delicate and appropriate throughout the story and subtly enhances the wanton charge of this film.

In addition, ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ is a very entertaining story, which many millionaires will look at with a chuckle. Although it is certainly very pleasant for the less fortunate. Moreover, the film provides an interesting insight into the art trade.

‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ is a remake of the movie of the same name that was released in the 1960s. Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway played an erotic chess game together in this earlier film. Faye Dunaway also plays a part in the remake, albeit a small part, but her characteristic face gives the film an authentic atmosphere from the start. This also explains the somewhat familiar glow that hangs over this film. Several moments appear familiar. While John McTiernan has also made some surefire adjustments in the new movie. The biggest change is stealing the Monet, which makes the film spectacular.

Much in this film is slightly exaggerated and presented with a fair amount of dry humor. Pierce Brosnan is of course responsible for this dose of typical English humor. The heavily imposed metaphors, the American beauties and the very close-up close-ups are often quite over the top. The interplay between Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo is as smart as it is challenging, which is very pleasing to watch. Events follow each other in a friendly and at the same time fast and nice pace. And the whole film actually exudes something light-hearted and amusing. ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ is a film without pretensions, without double meanings, without heavy dialogue and without exaggerated dramas. It’s just an old-fashioned fun and tasty movie with a modern twist.